Every reader who has spent some time with an infant has experienced the following scenario at least once: you are playing hide-and-seek with the child and, out of the blue, the child covers her eyes with her hands, believing to have found the most amazing hiding place. For the child, it is clear: he or she cannot see the adult, thus, the adult cannot see him/ her. In fact, the child is probably sitting in the middle of the room, without any object covering him/ her (except for the hands), and with the adult standing right in front of the child. This example is the perfect introduction to the topic of the present master thesis. The child is not yet able to understand that the adult is capable of seeing, believing or knowing something other than that which the child can. Or, in other words, the child does not understand that the adult has another mental state than its own. Thus, the child does not have a Theory of Mind, yet.
This master thesis deals with instances of Theory of Mind (such as the reading of minds, prediction of future actions, false and true beliefs) in Mary Shelley's famous work Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus (1818). The term Theory of mind (abbreviated as ToM) was introduced in 1978 by psychologists David Premack and Guy Woodruff in their famous paper “Does the Chimpanzee have a Theory of Mind?”. ToM denotes the ability of an individual to have a certain self-awareness, that is to be aware of one's own mental state, one's own beliefs (also false beliefs) but furthermore, the individual has to be able to attribute a mental state not only to themselves but to another individual as well. Given these conditions, the literature would suggest that this person has a Theory of Mind. I will discuss Theory of Mind in more detail in the second chapter. Besides Theory of Mind, there are also other terms that can be found in the literature, such as folk psychology, mindreading, mentalizing or even social cognition. [...]
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Theories and Ontogenesis of Theory of Mind
3. Theory of Mind prerequisites in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus
3.1 Self – awareness of Dr. Frankenstein and the Monster
3.2 Language ability of the Monster
3.3 Executive functioning
4. Theory of Mind: Mindreading and (false) Belief in Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus
4.1 Mindreading and False Belief of the Monster and Frankenstein
4.2 Dr. Frankenstein and Deception
4.3 Other humans and ToM
5. Empathy (and Love) in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus
6. ToM and Descriptions of Nature in Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus
7. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This master thesis investigates the presence and development of Theory of Mind (ToM) in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, specifically focusing on how the protagonists, Dr. Frankenstein and the Monster, attribute mental states to themselves and others. The study aims to demonstrate how instances of mindreading, false beliefs, and empathy are utilized in the narrative structure to engage the reader, create suspense, and influence the character development of both the creator and his creation.
- Theoretical foundations of Theory of Mind and its ontogenesis.
- Cognitive prerequisites: self-awareness, language ability, and executive functioning.
- The role of mindreading and false beliefs in shaping plot and character interactions.
- The function of empathy and love within the characters' moral development.
- Narrative techniques, including the use of nature descriptions as mirrors for characters' mental states.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Self-awareness of Dr. Frankenstein and the Monster
This section is concerned with the question of whether Frankenstein and the monster are aware of their own mental states and the mental states of others. I will begin with Frankenstein and focus on the monster later on. “But what glory would attend the discovery, if I could banish disease from the human frame, and render man invulnerable to any but a violent death!” (Shelley, Frankenstein 23). Frankenstein states his aim and shows that he can verbally express his desire, thus he is aware of it. He wants to heal the human race of any existing disease (cf. Weber 15). Part of the awareness of his own state of mind is that Frankenstein in retrospect knows his thoughts and beliefs of the time when he planned the creation of the monster. When Frankenstein talks to Walton, he shows himself to be aware of his former state of mind in regard to the creation process.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Introduces the concept of Theory of Mind (ToM) as a tool for literary analysis and outlines the thesis's focus on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.
2. Theories and Ontogenesis of Theory of Mind: Provides a psychological overview of ToM, including the brain-mind relation and traditional philosophies of mind such as dualism and materialism.
3. Theory of Mind prerequisites in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus: Analyzes the cognitive foundations for ToM in the novel, specifically self-awareness, language skills, and executive functioning.
4. Theory of Mind: Mindreading and (false) Belief in Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus: Examines specific instances of mindreading and the impact of false beliefs on the plot, characters, and reader engagement.
5. Empathy (and Love) in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus: Explores the role of empathy and emotional connections in humanizing the characters and impacting the reader's moral judgment.
6. ToM and Descriptions of Nature in Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus: Investigates how descriptions of nature serve as mirrors for the characters' internal mental and emotional states.
7. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, asserting that ToM is a valuable tool for literary analysis to understand character complexity, motivation, and the reading process.
Keywords
Theory of Mind, ToM, Mindreading, False Belief, Frankenstein, Mary Shelley, Executive Functioning, Empathy, Literary Analysis, Cognitive Science, Self-awareness, Language Acquisition, Character Development, Fiction, Narrative Perspective.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this master thesis?
The thesis focuses on applying the psychological concept of Theory of Mind to analyze character interactions, self-awareness, and emotional processes in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.
What are the central thematic fields?
The core themes include cognitive psychology applied to literature, specifically Theory of Mind (ToM), executive functioning, language acquisition, and the role of empathy in character relations.
What is the main research question?
The primary research aim is to determine if the protagonists possess a Theory of Mind and how the text utilizes instances of mindreading and false beliefs to deepen the literary analysis.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author uses cognitive literary theory, incorporating psychological research on ToM and executive functioning to analyze the internal states and actions of the novel's fictional characters.
What is covered in the main section?
The main section analyzes the prerequisites of ToM (self-awareness, language, executive function) and explores how mindreading, deception, empathy, and nature descriptions function within the novel's narrative.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include Theory of Mind, Mindreading, False Belief, Executive Functioning, Empathy, and Frankenstein.
How does executive functioning relate to reading literature?
The thesis argues that readers must utilize executive functioning to "metarepresent" multiple character viewpoints and keep track of who knows what at different stages of the novel.
Does the Monster demonstrate ToM?
Yes, the thesis argues that the Monster exhibits a well-developed Theory of Mind, as he demonstrates self-awareness, expresses complex emotions, and is capable of advanced mindreading despite his initial social isolation.
What is the significance of the "binoculars" metaphor?
The author uses the "binoculars" metaphor to describe how mindreading acts as a tool through which the reader can perceive a character's internal thoughts and feelings.
Does the author agree with the claim that Dr. Frankenstein has an ineffective ToM?
The author partially agrees but contests the absolute claim, providing evidence that both protagonists show instances of both faulty and successful mindreading throughout the novel.
- Citar trabajo
- Eva-Maria Ehrhardt (Autor), 2015, Mindreading and false belief. Theory of Mind in Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus", Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/339891
